Dark Winds Season 4 Premiere Introduces Menacing Killer on Reservation

The hit AMC series returns with a new season that follows Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Sgt. Jim Chee's search for a missing Navajo girl.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The popular Western thriller series Dark Winds returns to AMC for its fourth season premiere on Sunday, February 15. During the episode, a menacing killer comes to the remote Navajo Nation reservation in search of a target connected to the ongoing investigation led by Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Sgt. Jim Chee. The new season will follow the two officers as they search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes them from the safety of the reservation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

Why it matters

Dark Winds has built a loyal following for its gritty portrayal of crime and justice on the Navajo Nation, exploring complex themes of personal and cultural identity. The introduction of a new, menacing killer raises the stakes for the show's protagonists and promises an intense, suspenseful new chapter in the series.

The details

In the season four premiere, Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Sgt. Jim Chee are searching for a runaway boarding school student, while Manuelito considers returning to the Navajo Tribal Police (NTP). Meanwhile, a killer makes their way to the reservation in search of their next target, setting up a high-stakes confrontation with the show's central characters.

  • Dark Winds season four premieres on Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 9/8c on AMC.
  • The new season will follow Leaphorn and Chee's search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes place in the 1970s.

The players

Lt. Joe Leaphorn

A veteran Navajo Tribal Police officer who is leading the investigation into a series of seemingly unrelated crimes on the reservation.

Sgt. Jim Chee

Leaphorn's new deputy, who also has personal demons from his youth on the reservation that he is working to overcome.

Manuelito

A character who is considering returning to the Navajo Tribal Police during the events of the season four premiere.

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What’s next

Viewers will have to tune in to the season four premiere of Dark Winds on February 15 to see how Lt. Leaphorn and Sgt. Chee handle the arrival of the menacing killer on the reservation and their search for the missing Navajo girl.

The takeaway

Dark Winds continues to deliver gripping, suspenseful storytelling that explores the complex realities of life on the Navajo Nation. The introduction of a new, dangerous threat raises the stakes for the show's protagonists and promises an intense, must-watch new season for fans of the hit AMC series.